‘Get up, get breakfast, noise’: the teen going viral for enduring all 400 of Merzbow’s ear-splitting albums
An 18-year-old Georgia teenager, Sam Andrews, has become an unlikely social media hit by attempting to listen to the entire catalogue of Merzbow, the Japanese noise artist known for his punishingly harsh soundscapes. Since February, Andrews has been vlogging his daily progress through the musician's forbidding discography, with some videos amassing half a million views and even catching the attention of Merzbow himself, real name Masami Akita. The project has struck a chord beyond novelty value, sparking wider discussion about how listeners engage with difficult, demanding music in an era dominated by streaming algorithms and short-form content designed to keep audiences moving quickly from one thing to the next.
Akita has released more than 400 recordings since 1979, ranging from a 10-hour album to collaborations such as the group Flying Testicle, and Andrews tracks his listening on a colour-coded spreadsheet, rating each release on Instagram and Rate Your Music. He rates 1990's Rainbow Electronics his favourite so far, while 1996's Merzbow Loves Emil Beaulieau was his low point, comparing its droning second half to tinnitus. Despite the extreme subject matter, Andrews comes across as an ordinary teenager balancing college applications and a part-time cinema job, and he frames his project as a deliberate stand for "deep listening" and full-album engagement, in contrast to the fragmented, mind-numbing way he sees younger audiences typically consuming noise music online.
In short
- Teen Sam Andrews is vlogging his way through Merzbow's 400+ noise albums.
- Some videos have reached half a million views and Merzbow's own attention.
- He frames it as championing deep, full-album listening over short-form content.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Andrews’s project makes a case for giving challenging music sustained attention, showing how patient listening can reveal distinctions and rewards that quick sampling may miss. In a streaming culture built around constant recommendations and short clips, his method also offers a personal way to explore an artist’s catalogue and invite others into a less familiar musical world.
The case against
The project’s scale and viral format may turn difficult music into a feat to complete and rate, rather than an experience listeners can approach on their own terms. Short videos and rankings can also compress a varied catalogue into novelty and endurance, while casual or fragmented listening is a legitimate way to discover music rather than a failing that needs correcting.
Explained simply
Merzbow is the long-running project of Japanese musician Masami Akita, who has released more than 400 recordings since 1979. The music is a form of noise: instead of familiar melodies and song structures, it often uses layers of harsh, distorted sound.
Sam Andrews is an 18-year-old from Georgia who has been documenting his attempt to hear Akita’s entire catalogue. His project has drawn attention to both the scale of Merzbow’s work and the challenge of listening to music that many people find difficult.
The story also touches on how people listen to music today. Streaming services and short videos make it easy to move quickly between tracks, while Andrews’ project centres on spending time with complete albums.
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